A garden isn’t just a stretch of greenery beside your house. It should ideally be broken up by pathways and flowerbeds. This doesn’t just provide a visual contrast; it also serves an important function. Gardens just wouldn’t be as enjoyable if you were forced to trample over the grass. And this obviously applies especially to the front of your house, as you’ll need a driveway on which to park your car. Paved driveways look fantastic as well as serving this purpose. But, like garden pathways, they’ll need regular maintenance if they’re to continue to look their best.
Get the Installation Right
If your garden paving is of inferior quality, or isn’t installed competently in the first place, then the chances are strong that it won’t last the distance. If you’ve ever seen how dreadful paving looks when its uneven, then you’ll be familiar with this problem. A lack of support at the base can cause bricks to shift over time. And if there isn’t a sufficient slope, then your paving won’t be able to drain properly – which will place pressure on the surface.
It’s invariably better to hire a professional to get this job done. They will be able to bring special expertise to the job, as well as specialised tools like compactors.
Sweep Regularly
Leaving debris, like fallen leaves, to accumulate on your paving, can prove a bit of a problem in the long-run. Over time this plant matter will break down, spreading tannin and grime and microscopic seeds across the paving. It’s much simpler to just sweep (or suck) this up while it’s in a dry state.
Scrub Moss
The gaps between your paving slabs provide a perfect environment for moss and other plant-life to take hold. Keep on top of this with a wire brush. These are inexpensive and easy to use.
Kill Weeds
Where weeds are taking hold, remove them by hand. For best results, you’ll want to try to take out the entire plant, including the roots, as this will prevent it from growing back. If the problem is widespread across all of your paving, then it might be time to consider more severe methods, like chemical weedkillers.
Washing
Keeping your paving tidy isn’t enough – you’ll also need to treat it to the occasional wash. Do this with soapy water rather than an acidic floor cleaner, as the acid content in some products can harm your paving. If you’re using a pressure-washer, then try to exercise caution around the more delicate joins in your paving – a blast of water can do real harm!